Rotary latch and keeper



NOV. 23, 1943. A w fi' 2,335,001

ROTARY LATCH AND KEEPER Filed Sept. 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mum/MR ll. ENDTE R. 5x

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 23, 1943. w. A. ENDTER 2,335,001

ROTARY LATCH AND KEEPER Filed Sept. 11., 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE /V TOR. gum/ma ,4. END rm.

/7 T TORNEY Patented Nov. 23, i943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE normr m'rcn AND Knnrna Waldemar A. Endter, Long Beach, can.

Application September 11,1940, Serial No. ssazrc 6 Claims. (01. 292-214) This invention relates to a novel latch keeper, which cooperates with a rotary latch bolt for the purpose of holding a door securely in closed position.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel keeper for rotary latch bolts, in which the latch has a stationary guiding surface, the keeper cooperating with the guiding surface and with the rotary latch bolt whereby the keeper is clamped between the guiding surface and the bolt.

A further object is to provide a novel keeper which co-acts with the rotary bolt, and also with a projecting lug on the latch so that the door is held in proper horizontal alignment.

A feature of my invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of a keeper provided with substantially horizontal and angular surfaces which cooperate respectively with a stationary lug on the latch, and with the heads of a rotary bolt, thereby holding the door securely against both horizontal and vertical movement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel keeper of the character stated, which is provided with a spaced tooth-like projection over which the rotary bolt rotates in a closing direction, thereby providing a safety catch to prevent opening of the door when partially closed.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the keeper in position about to enter the latch.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the latch.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the latch.

Figure 4 is a view taken-at right angles to Figure 3, and as viewed from the right, with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the keeper.

Figure 6 is a face view of my rotary latch with a keeper about to engage the same.

Figure 7 is a face view of m latch with the keeper partially engaging the latch.

Figure 8 is a face view of my latch with the keeper in approximately home position and with the rotor about to trip into latching position.

Figure 9 is a face view of my latch, showing the rotor in the safety position in the keeper.

Figure 10 is a face view of my latch showing the keeper in home position, and with the roto engaging said keeper.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

my latch includes a frame I, which is suitably attached to or mounted in a door or similar closure.

A rotary bolt 2 is rotatably mounted in the frame I on a horizontal pin 3. This pin is suitably attached in the frame, and the outer support consists of a bracket 4, which projects from the outer surface of the frame. The rotary bolt 2 may consist of a plurality of latch heads 5 and a plurality of dogging heads 5. A web I supports the heads 5 and 6, and also closes the opening in the frame I, through which the rotary bolt extends, thereby covering the inner structure, and providing a lock which is simple in appearance, and also preventing dirt from accumulating on the operative Parts of the latch.

The keeper 8 is preferably cast or formed of a single piece of metal, and consists of a mounting plate 9, and an inwardly projecting body III. This body is formed with a tooth-like projection H at the forward end thereof, the purpose of which is to engage one of the heads 5 of the rotary bolt, and to act as a safety catch. A notch I! in the lower face of the body l0 receives the head 5 when in the first safety catch position. Further rotation of the bolt 2 will then cause one of the heads 5 to engage the main body of the keeper-that is the upwardly inclined surface l3. When the latch engages the keeper, a lug I4 projecting from the frame I bears against the top surface l5 of the keeper. This top surface of the keeper is substantially horizontal although it may be very slightly inclined upwardly that is an acute angle to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 5. As the rotary bolt .2 is dogged into locking position, a head 5 will press tightly against the surface B of the keeper, and the keeper is thus gripped between the stationary lug l4 and the head 5 of the bolt. This vise-like grip on the keeper will hold the door securely against both horizontal and vertical movement.

The rotary bolt 2 is dogged into position to clamp the. keeper 8 by a plurality of dogs l6, which are pivotally mounted in the frame on a pin II. The dog or dogs lli are provided with a curved or cammed surface- I8 on the lower end, this cammed surface engagin one of the dog ging heads 6. The dogs are retracted by suitable means extending fromthe handle l9 to the dogs, this mechanism being of usual and well-known construction, and the details thereof, form no part of this invention. A spring 20 engages the dog ii for the purpose of urging these dogs into engagement with the' bolt. The springs 20, through their action against the dogs, tend to constantly rotate the bolt into latching position, and thus any relative movement of the door and keeper will tend to further clamp the keeper, and

will urge the' door intoa more tightly closed position.

In Figures 6 to, 10 inclusive, I have shown a sequence of operations of the keeper entering the latch. The keeper 2l is somewhat difierent in shape than the keeper 10, previously described, in that the tooth-like projection 22 at the forward end of the keeper is somewhat shorter than the projection ll previously described. Also, the notch 23 in the-keeper is somewhat larger than the notch l2 previously described. The keeper 2| moves into the latch between the lug l4 and the rotor 2. The various heads 5 of the rotor co-act with the keeper 2|, a will be further described. The dogs l6 act against the dogging heads 6 of the rotor in the same manner as previously described. As shown in Figure 6, the keeper is about to engage with the latch and one of the heads of the rotor 2 is substantially vertical. In Figure 7, the keeper is engaging the latch, and the dotted lines show the cam dog It being retracted by one inside head 6 of the rotor. Notice that a pair of adjacent heads 5 of the rotor are straddling the-notch 23 as the keeper moves into the latch.

In Figure 8, the keeper is in substantially home position, but if the keeper is allowed to retract, one of the heads 5 will fall into the notch 23, or the safety position. If the latch is pushed in a closing direction, a head 5 -of the bolt will engage the inclined surface 24 of the keeper, as shown in Figure 10. Figure 9 in turn shows one of the heads of the bolt in safety position within the notch 23, this position being assumed if the keeper is retracted from the position shown in Figure 8. In Figure 10, the latch is in home position of the keeper and movement of the latch is restrained in all directions except in a closing direction. The latch is being urged in a closing direction due to the engagement of one of the heads 5 with the angular surface 24, as shown in Figure 10.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A latch mechanism comprising a freely rotatable multi-headed bolt, a keeper adapted to be engaged by said bolt including an advance projection and a following projection separated by a notch, and means adapted to engage, said bolt and normally urge the same in keeper-engaging direction, said bolt-heads being suflicient- 1y spaced apart to normally straddle saidl keeper projections in passing for engagement, said advance projection engaging one of said heads and rotating said bolt placing said heads in said straddling position until said advance projection passes said engaged head, said bolt urging means being placed under tension during such engagement tending to urge the bolt in non-latching direction whereupon should complete engagement of bolt and keeper be not eifected, one of said bolt-heads will be engaged and retained in said notch to maintain partial engagement between bolt and keeper constituting a safety-catch position.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a freely rotatable bolt having at least first and second successive latching heads, a keeper adapted to be engaged by said bolt heads including an advance projection and a following projection separated by a notch, a plurality of dogging heads on said bolt in symmetrical relation to said latching heads, and spring urged means adapted to be engaged by any one of said dogging heads and to be passed by the respective dogging head eflective to impose pressure upon said head and normally urge the bolt into full keeper engaging position, the successive latching heads being spaced apart to normally straddle said keeper projections in passing and being caused to assume such straddling position by engagement'of the first latching head with the advanced pro jection during which time said spring urged means is placed under tension by its cooperating dogging head thus tending to impose rotation upon the bolt in non-latching direction, whereby upon passing of said first latching head beyond said advance projection but failing complete engagement of the bolt andkeeper, said first latching head will be trapped in said notch by nonlatching rotation of the bolt providing a safetycatch position.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a freely rotatable bolt having at least first and second successive latching heads, a keeper adapted to be engaged by said bolt heads including an advance fixed projection and a following fixed projection separated by a notch, a plurality of dogging heads on said bolt in symmetrical relation to said latching heads, and spring urged means adapted to be engaged by any one of said dog i g heads and to be passed by the respective dogging head whereupon the spring urged means will become efiective to impose pressure upon said head and normally urge the bolt into full keeper engaging Position, the successive latching heads being spaced apart to normally straddle said keeper projections in passing and being caused to assume such straddling position by engagement of the first latching head with the advanced projection during which time said spring urged means is placed under tension by its cooperating dogging head thus tending to impose rotation upon the bolt in non-latching direction, whereby upon passing of said first latching head beyond said advance projection but failing complete engagement of the bolt and keeper, said first latching head will be trapped in said notch by non-latching rotation of the bolt providing a safety-catch position.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 further characterized by said second projection including a part adapted to be engaged by the second latching head as bolt and keeper are further moved to complete latching position whereupon said spring urged means is effective upon said bolt to urge and maintain the same in continuing engagement in latching direction.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a freely rotatable bolt having at least first and second successive latching heads, a keeper adapted to be engaged by said bolt heads including an advance projection and a following projection separated by a notch, said following projection having an inclined face, a plurality of dogging heads on said bolt in symmetrical relation to said latching heads, and spring urged means adapted to be engaged by any one of said dogging heads and to be passed by the respective dogging head whereupon the spring urged means will become effective to impose pressure upon said head and normally urge the bolt into full keeper engaging position, the successive latching heads being spaced apart to normally straddle said keeper projections in passing and being caused to assume such straddling position by engagement of the first latching head with the advancedprojection, said second latching head being then adapted to be urged into engagement with said whereupon th spring urged means will become inclined face, whereupon said bolt and keeper are adapted to be maintained in constantly urged latching engagement.

6. A latch mechanism comprising a keeper having an advance projection and a following projection in spaced relation providing a notch therebetween, said following projection including an inclined face, a freely rotatable bolt having successive latching heads and similarly arranged dogging heads. and spring urged means adapted to cooperate with any one of said dogging heads upon engagement of one of said latching heads by said advance projection, said latching heads being normally spaced apart enough to straddle said keeper projections upon engagement of the advance projection with one of said latching heads and partial rotation of said bolt, the succeeding latching head being thus placed in a position to engage said inclined face, said spring urged means being concurrently tensioned whereby to potentially urge the bolt in non-latching direction, said spring urged means being so related to the cooperating dogging head that upon passing the same it will impose continued rotation of the bolt in latching direction thereby causing a succeeding latching head to engage said inclined keeper face to constantly urge the bolt and keeper in latching engagement when the keeper has sufdciently rotated the bolt in latching direcction whereas should the bolt be not so sufliciently rotated, said spring urged means will cause rotation of the bolt in non-latching direction whereby upon passing of said advance projection engaging latching head beyond said advance projection but failing complete engagement of bolt and keeper, said latching head will be rotated into engagement with said notch providing a safetycatch position.

WAIDEMAR A. END'I'ER. 

